Nut harvester with a removable assembly and a method of replacing a removable assembly of a nut harvester

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for replacing a removable assembly from a harvester for collecting and separating harvested crop product from twigs, dirt, dust, and other debris. A removable assembly for picking up harvested crop product and a removable assembly for separating the picked up harvested crop product from twigs, dirt, dust, and other debris are mounted to be changed out quickly in the field. A removable pickup assembly is received for removably mounting in the harvester by an inclined slot formed in a sidewall of the harvester body frame, so that the removable pickup assembly with the worn belt is lifted up and out and a replacement removable pickup assembly with a new belt is dropped into its place.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Application Serial No.16/783,835, filed Feb. 6, 2020, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/803,011, filed Feb. 8, 2019, the subjectmatter of each of which are incorporated in their entirety by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to systems for collecting andseparating materials and to methods related to replacing removableassemblies of the systems. In particular, the present disclosure relatesto harvesters and removable assemblies for collecting and separatingvarious crops, for example tree nuts, from twigs, dirt, dust, and otherdebris.

Some harvesters presently on the market use various pickup andscreening/roller configuration to pick up and separate debris fromharvested crop product.

Separation of the debris from the crop at or near the location ofharvesting may decrease the weight of the harvested crop and thus thecost of transportation, decrease the cost of disposal of the debrisbecause it may be left in or near the harvesting location, and decreasethe likelihood of contamination of the harvested product with the debrisduring transport. These screening/roller separator assemblies may have aseries of rotating spaced parallel shafts, each of which has a series ofdisks. The screening/roller separator assemblies permit debris to passdownward through spaces between disks, while the harvested crop productremains over the disks and advances out of the screening/rollerseparator assembly to a collector. U.S. patent 10,111,385 (the '385patent), issued on Oct. 30, 2018, the contents of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety and attached hereto as ExhibitA, presents an example of a known harvester.

A problem with known harvesters is the wearing of pickup or separatingconfiguration components. Pickup configurations can include a number ofwear components, e.g., brushes, which contact the ground and liftharvest crop product and associated debris into a screening/rollerconfiguration for separation. Pickup configurations also may includeflexible belts for driving the rotation of pickup components, and othercomponents that are subject to wear and degradation over time.

Similarly, screening/roller configuration for separation can include anumber of wear components, e.g., disks, which contact the harvest cropand associated debris and wear as the associated debris separated fromthe harvest crop passes downward. It is time consuming to replace suchcomponents, e.g., belt, disks, brushes, wear parts, when the componentsbreak, become jammed, or otherwise require service or replacement. Andservice and replacement often requires taking a harvester out ofcommission for long periods of time, reducing the overall efficiency ofthe harvest.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a nut harvester is providedwith a removable assembly that may be replaced in the field. In anotheraspect of the present disclosure, a method of replacing a removableassembly in the field is provided.

An exemplary nut harvester of the present invention includes a removablepickup assembly and a removable separator assembly that may be removedfrom the nut harvester by decoupling a motor mounted to the respectiveassembly for driving one of the shafts of the assemblies, and removingthe respective assembly from the nut harvester. A replacement pickupassembly and/or separator assembly may be placed into the place of theremoved pickup assembly and/or separator assembly, removably connectedto the body frame of the nut harvester and coupled with the motor. Suchreplacement mechanism and method provides an easy and simple way toreplace in the field a removable pickup assembly and/or a removableseparator assembly of a nut harvester.

In one feature of the disclosure, a nut harvester is described having abody frame and at least one removable assembly. In another feature ofthe disclosure, a removable assembly is a removable pickup assembly. Inanother feature of the disclosure, a removable assembly is a removableseparator assembly. In yet another feature of the disclosure, aremovable pickup assembly includes a pickup assembly drive shaft, apickup assembly idle shaft, a belt wrapped around the pickup assemblydrive shaft and the pickup assembly idle shaft, and a stretcher assemblyproviding tension and support to the pickup assembly drive shaft and thepickup assembly idle shaft.

In one feature of the disclosure, a stretcher assembly includes astretcher assembly side plate adapted for mounting the pickup assemblydrive shaft and the pickup assembly idle shaft to the stretcher assemblyside plate. In another feature of the disclosure, a stretcher assemblyincludes a closed bracket attached to the stretcher assembly side plateand to which the pickup assembly idle shaft is secured via an idle shaftbearing block. In another feature of the disclosure, a stretcherassembly includes an open bracket attached to the stretcher assemblyside plate and to which the pickup assembly drive shaft is secured via adrive shaft bearing block. In yet another feature of the disclosure, astretcher assembly includes a stretcher rod penetrating a closed bracketand attached to an open bracket. In another aspect of the disclosure, astretcher assembly includes a stretcher nut adapted to engage thestretcher rod such that rotation of the stretcher rod adjusts thedistance between the closed bracket and the open bracket to adjust thetension between the pickup assembly idle shaft and the pickup assemblydrive shaft.

In one feature of the disclosure, a nut harvester includes a pickupassembly motor. In another aspect of the disclosure, a pickup assemblymotor is a pickup assembly hydraulic motor. In one aspect of thedisclosure, a pickup assembly torque arm is connected to a pickupassembly motor and the pickup assembly torque arm includes a pickupassembly torque arm slot. In yet another aspect of the disclosure, apickup assembly torque arm includes a pickup assembly torque armmounting end attached to a pickup assembly motor, and a pickup assemblytorque arm slot end in which a pickup assembly torque arm slot isformed. In one aspect of the disclosure, an opening of the pickupassembly torque arm slot is wider than a size of a pickup assemblytorque arm pin inserted into the pickup assembly torque arm slot. Inanother aspect of the disclosure, a pickup assembly torque arm slot iselongated to tolerate a movement of the pickup assembly motor withrespect to the pickup assembly torque arm pin. In another aspect of thedisclosure, a pickup assembly motor coupler couples the pickup assemblymotor to the pickup assembly drive shaft.

In one aspect of the disclosure, a removable separator assembly includesa separator assembly side plate, a separator assembly drive shaft, andat least one separator assembly shaft. In another aspect of thedisclosure, a removable separator assembly includes at least two disksmounted on each of at least two separator assembly shafts. In yetanother aspect of the disclosure, a separator assembly motor isincluded. In one aspect of the disclosure, a separator assembly motor isa separator assembly hydraulic motor. In another feature of thedisclosure, a nut harvester includes a separator assembly torque armconnected to a separator assembly motor, the separator assembly torquearm including a separator assembly torque arm slot. In another aspect ofthe disclosure, a separator assembly torque arm includes a separatorassembly torque arm mounting end attached to a separator assembly motor.In another aspect of the disclosure a separator assembly torque armincludes a separator assembly torque arm slot end in which a separatorassembly torque arm slot is formed. In another aspect of the disclosure,an opening of a separator assembly torque arm slot is wider than a sizeof a separator assembly torque arm pin inserted into the separatorassembly torque arm slot.

In one aspect of the disclosure, a separator assembly torque arm slot iselongated to tolerate a movement of the separator assembly motor withrespect to a roller assembly torque arm pin. In another aspect of thedisclosure, a nut harvester includes a separator assembly motor couplercoupling a separator assembly motor to a separator assembly drive shaft.In another aspect of the disclosure, a nut harvester includes aremovable separator assembly. In yet another aspect of the disclosure, anut harvester includes a body frame, the body frame including a pickupassembly support on which a removable pickup assembly is adapted torest, and a mounting rail, where the mounting rail includes an inclinedslot adapted to receive a removable pickup assembly; and, the pickupassembly torque arm pin. In yet another aspect of the disclosure, aframe includes a mounting ear to which a stretcher assembly is removablymounted and a mounting slot to which an attachment surface formed on aseparator assembly side plate is removably mounted. In another aspect ofthe disclosure, a nut harvester includes a separator assembly torque armpin for insertion into a separator assembly torque arm.

In one aspect of the disclosure, a method of replacing a removableassembly of a nut harvester is disclosed. In one aspect of thedisclosure, a method of replacing a removable assembly of a nutharvester includes decoupling a motor from a shaft of a removableassembly, removing the removable assembly from the nut harvester byunmounting the removable assembly from a body frame of the nutharvester, mounting a replacement removable assembly to the body frameof the nut harvester, and coupling the motor to a shaft of thereplacement removable assembly. In one feature of the disclosure, amethod includes removing one or more cover panels from the body frame ofa nut harvester. In another feature of the disclosure, a motor is ahydraulic motor. In yet another feature of the disclosure, a step ofremoving a removable assembly includes lifting up an unmounted removableassembly from an inclined slot formed on a body frame and removing thelifted up removable assembly out of a nut harvester. In one aspect ofthe disclosure, a step of mounting of a replacement removable assemblyincludes placing the replacement removable assembly into an inclinedslot before removably mounting the replacement removable assembly to abody frame.

In another feature of the disclosure, a harvester is disclosed having aharvester frame, having sidewalls, the sidewalls having inclined slots;and a pick-up and/or separator assembly cassette received for mountingin the harvester frame by the inclined slots, so that the cassette isadapted to be lifted up and out and a replacement cassette dropped intoits place.

These and other features and advantages will be more clearly understoodfrom the following detailed description and drawing of embodiments ofthe present application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a harvester according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a harvester like FIG. 1 with covers.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the harvester of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded side view of the harvester of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pickup assembly and separator assemblyof the harvester of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pickup assembly of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the pickup assembly of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the pickup assembly of FIG. 6 inserted into theharvester of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the pickup assembly of FIG. 6 inserted into theharvester of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the pickup assembly of FIG. 6 insertedinto the harvester of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the pickup assembly of FIG. 6 mountedto the harvester of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a first hydraulic motor coupled to thepickup assembly of FIG. 6, which is mounted to the harvester of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the separator assembly ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative separatorassembly according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the roller assembly of FIG. 13 mountedto the harvester of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a second hydraulic motor coupled to thepickup assembly of FIG. 13, mounted to the harvester of FIG. 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Refer now to FIG. 1, there being shown a harvester 22 according to anexemplary embodiment. The harvester 22 is pulled along a row of cropproduct, for example, tree nuts. The harvester 22 is connected to atowing vehicle (not pictured) by a hitch 32. Alternatively, theharvester 22 can be pushed or have its own drive motor. The harvester 22includes a fan assembly 24, front and back wheels 26, a power take-off28 for transferring mechanical energy from the towing vehicle engine, ahydraulic pump 30, a crop product collection mechanism 34, an exitconveyor 36, a removable pickup assembly 200 (FIG. 3), and a removableseparator assembly 100.

The crop product is collected by the collection mechanism 34, which canbe a rotating sweeper or other suitable collection mechanism.Alternatively, the crop product can be collected by another machine. Aremovable pickup assembly 200 is placed behind the collection mechanism34 to pick up the collected crop.

After it is picked up, crop product is fed to the separator assembly100. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, the separator assembly 100is configured with a series of rollers, and may be referred to herein asa roller assembly. The '385 patent describes a known roller assembly.However, the roller assembly of the '385 patent is not readily replacedin the field like the separator assembly 100 of the present application,as will be discussed below. Another type of separator assembly isdescribed below with respect to FIG. 14. The separator assembly 100operates to separate the crop product from twigs, dirt, dust, and otherdebris, which may be referred to herein, collectively, as debris. Thedebris passes through the roller assembly 100, while the crop productstays above the removable roller assembly 100. The crop product ispassed to the exit conveyor 36 to be collected with the rest of theseparated crop product in a separate container or truck (not shown).

The harvester 22 has a power take-off 28 that drives a hydraulic pump30. The hydraulic pump 30 drives, through the hydraulic tubing 31 (FIGS.12, 16), a pickup assembly hydraulic motor 42 (FIG. 12) and a rollerassembly hydraulic motor 52 (FIG. 4) that then, respectively, drives theremovable pickup assembly 200 and the removable separator assembly 100.The hydraulic motors 42, 52 have a mechanical connection to at least oneof the rotational shafts of the removable pickup assembly 200 and theremovable separator assembly 100, respectively. In an example, each thehydraulic motors 42, 52 is co-axial with the connected rotationalshafts, respectively. When the power take-off 28 is engaged, power istransferred from the towing vehicle (not pictured) to the rotationalshafts through the power take-off 28, the hydraulic pump 30, thehydraulic tubing 31, and the hydraulic motors 42, 52.

In other embodiments, the harvester 22 can have its own power generationsource, e.g., an engine or electric motor, that transfers its mechanicalpower to the rotational shafts. In this later embodiment, the harvester22 does not require a power take-off connected to a towing vehicle.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, harvester 22 includes a top frontcover 72 and top back cover 74 that cover a body frame 80 of theharvester 22. Inside a pickup compartment 76 of the body frame 80 isplaced the removeable pickup assembly 200, which may also be referred toas a removeable pickup cassette. Inside a separator compartment 78 (FIG.13) of the body frame 80 is placed the removable separator assembly 100,which may also be referred to as a removable separator cassette, or, inthe illustrated embodiment, a removable roller assembly or cassette. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 5, the crops and debris collected by theremovable pickup assembly 200 are transferred to the removable separatorassembly 100. As shown, there is no mechanical interconnection betweenthe removable pickup assembly 200 and the removable roller assembly 100to maintain alignment or timing. The removable separator assembly 100separates the crops from debris and exhausts the separated crops throughthe exit conveyor 36 of FIG. 1. A separation screen 88 with at least oneopening 89 may optionally be placed between the pickup assembly 200 andthe roller assembly 100 to align the crops and debris transferred to theroller assembly 100.

During operation, the removable pickup assembly 200 placed within thebody frame 80 is covered by panels, e.g., top body panel 62, side upperbody panel 64. The body panels 62 and 64 protect the removable pickupassembly 200 from external dust and other debris, for example, weatheror materials kicked up by the towing vehicle that may damage theremovable pickup assembly 200. The removable separator assembly 100 isalso covered by panels, e.g., side lower body panel(s) 66. The panels 66protect the removable separator assembly 100 from dust and debris thatmay damage the removable separator assembly 100 like that of removeablepickup assembly 200, and prevent additional dusts and debris landing ona surface of the removable separator assembly 100.

The pickup assembly hydraulic motor 42 is mounted to the removablepickup assembly 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the pickup assemblyhydraulic motor 42 is mounted to the removable pickup assembly 200 bybeing coupled to a pickup assembly drive shaft 214, which will bediscussed below. The roller assembly hydraulic motor 52 is mounted tothe removable roller assembly 100 by being coupled through coupler 58 toa roller assembly drive shaft 113 (FIG. 15). By mounting the hydraulicmotors 42, 52 to the removable pickup assembly 200 and removable rollerassembly 100, respectively, the hydraulic motors 42, 52 drive theremovable pickup assembly 200 and removable roller assembly 100,respectively, without being mounted onto the harvester 22 body frame 80.That is, the pickup assembly hydraulic motor 42 and the roller assemblyhydraulic motor 52 are not mounted on the harvester 22 body frame 80,but are instead mounted on the pickup assembly 200 and the removableroller assembly 100 directly.

The housings 41, 51 of the pickup assembly hydraulic motor 42 and rollerassembly hydraulic motor 52, respectively, are attached to a pickupassembly torque arm 44 and a roller assembly torque arm 54,respectively, each of which limits the housings 41, 51 of the respectivehydraulic motor 42, 52 from excessive rotation while driving therespective assemblies (FIGS. 12, 16). The pickup assembly and rollerassembly hydraulic motors 42, 52 drive the removable pickup assembly 200and removable roller assembly 100, respectively, without the hydraulicmotors 42, 52 being mounted onto the harvester 22 body frame 80. Thepickup assembly torque arm 44 and the roller assembly torque arm 54prevent excessive rotation of the respective hydraulic motors 42, 52 byengaging the slots 49, 59 of the torque arms 44, 54 with a respectivepickup assembly torque arm pin 91 (FIG. 12) and a roller assembly torquearm pin 92 (FIG. 16), which will be discussed further below.

FIGS. 6 and 7 provide a perspective and side view of the removablepickup assembly 200 (or removable pickup cassette) according to anaspect of the present invention. The removable pickup assembly 200includes two stretcher assemblies 220 separating and maintaining tensionbetween a pickup assembly drive shaft 214 and a pickup assembly idleshaft 212. It should be noted that only one side of the removable pickupassembly 200, i.e., one stretcher assembly 220, is discussed and thatstructurally, the other stretcher assembly 220 has comparable features.

Each of pickup assembly drive shaft 214 and pickup assembly idle shaft212 may optionally include a shaft cover, e.g., pickup assembly driveshaft cover 215 and pickup assembly idle shaft cover 213, respectively,to provide a suitable dimension and surface for driving and idling oneor more belts 204 wrapped around a pickup assembly drive shaft 214 andpickup assembly idle shaft 212. For example, pickup assembly drive shaftcover 215 and pickup assembly idle shaft cover 213 may each include arubberized material or the like with suitable friction to prevent thebelts 204 from slipping. During operation, as the pickup assemblyhydraulic motor 42 mounted to the pickup assembly drive shaft 214 drivesthe rotation of the pickup assembly drive shaft 214, the belts 204rotate around the removable pickup assembly 200 idling around pickupassembly idle shaft 212. One or more brushes 206 are positioned aboutperpendicular to a moving direction of the belt(s) 204, spacedperiodically around the belts 204. The brushes 206 pick up the cropproducts and move the collected products to the removable rollerassembly 100. The brushes 206 are constructed as known in the art, andmay be comprised of a rubber or plastic, or other pliable material,fiber, or fabric, to assist the collection and movement of cropproducts. For example, in one example the “brushes” 206 may be slitrubber pieces backed by metal tine for strength or other suitablematerial.

Stretcher assembly 220 supports the pickup assembly drive shaft 214 andpickup assembly idle shaft 212 and tensions the belts 204 by adjustingthe distance between shafts 214, 212. The stretcher assembly 220includes a closed bracket 260, an open bracket 270, a stretcher rod 230with matching stretcher nut(s) 232, and stretcher plate 202 on which theclosed bracket 260 and the open bracket 270 are mounted. Stretcher plate202 prevents external debris from fouling the removable pickup assembly200 and also serves to maintain the belts 204 in position. The stretcherplate may be formed of one or more components or in corporateclearances, for example, to allow adjustments of the brackets 260, 270.

The pickup assembly idle shaft and pickup assembly drive shafts 212, 214are rotatably mounted onto the stretcher plate 202, and are secured tothe closed bracket 260 and open bracket 270 with an idle shaft bearingblock 242 and drive shaft bearing block 244, respectively, that act as abearing surface for the respective shafts. Each of idle bearing block242 and drive bearing block 244 may include ball bearings or similarbearing surfaces within the respective bearing blocks 244. The idleshaft and drive shaft bearing blocks 242, 244 may be fastened onto theclosed and open brackets 260, 270, respectively, using a suitablefastener, removable or permanent. The pickup assembly idle shaft andpickup assembly drive shafts 212, 214 are able to rotate within the idleand drive bearing blocks 242, 244, respectively. The rotation causes thebrushes 206 to travel around the removable pickup assembly 200.

The open bracket 280 includes open arms 271 surrounding at least one end262 of the closed bracket 260. The relative position of the closedbracket 260 and the open bracket 270 can be adjusted by manipulating thestretcher rod 230. One end 231 of the stretcher rod 230 is attached to amiddle section 272 of the open bracket 280 between the open arms 271 andpenetrates the surrounded end 262 of the closed bracket 260 via anopening 264 in a middle section 263 of the surrounded end 262. Thematching stretcher nuts 232 are placed on the stretcher rod 230 on bothsides of the opening 264 of the closed bracket 260. The stretcher rod230 may be, for example, a threaded rod that, when rotated incorresponding nuts 232, causes the distance between the pickup assemblydrive shaft 214 and pickup assembly idle shaft 212 to change.Alternative stretcher rod mechanisms may also be suitable such as, forexample, a hydraulic pneumatic piston, so long as it is capable ofmaintaining suitable tension. Because the stretcher assembly 220 is ableto maintain tension between the pickup assembly drive shaft 214 andpickup assembly idle shaft 212 when not inserted into a harvester, theremovable pickup assembly 200 (cassette) may be pre-tensioned in afavorable work environment in advance of installation, which decreasesthe time it takes to replace the pickup assembly and ultimately reducingthe out-of-service-time of the harvester.

The closed and open brackets 260, 270 may include a guide formaintaining the brackets 260, 270 relatively co-planer. For example, asshown in FIG. 6, the open bracket 270 includes a slot 252 and the closedbracket 260 includes a slot insert 254, or pin, to be inserted into theslot 252 of the open bracket 270 to maintain a co-planer alignment ofthe open bracket 270 in relation to the closed bracket 260.

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 illustrate the placement of the pickup assembly 200within the body frame 80 of the harvester 22. The body frame 80 includesa mounting rail 82 formed on an outer surface of a side frame of thebody frame 80. While the body frame is shown in segments, the body framemay also be continuous frame or be made of joined, e.g., welded,segments. A portion of the mounting rail 82 forms an inclined slot 83dimensioned to removably receive the removable pickup assembly 200. Theincline of the inclined slot 83 allows the pickup assembly 200 to beeasily slid into the inclined slot 83 as a single unit and lifted out ofthe inclined slot 83 as a single unit for replacement.

As such, an out of service removable pickup assembly 200 may be removedand a new or repaired removable pickup assembly may be inserted withoutsignificant downtime to the harvester. Out of service removable pickupassembly 200 may then be repaired after the harvester is returned toservice with a new removable pickup assembly 200. The out of serviceremovable pickup assembly 200 may be transferred to a workshop or othersuitable safe location to have the worn parts, e.g., belts 204 orbrushes 206, replaced in a more work friendly environment and stored fora next replacement. As the removable pickup assembly 200 glides into andout of the inclined slot 83, it is guided and supported by an inclinedslot bottom surface 84, inclined slot top surface 86, and inclined slotcurve surface 85 of the inclined slot 83. The body frame 80 furthercomprises an opening 87, the edges of which are shaped to accommodatethe removable pickup assembly 200 inserted into the inclined slot 83.FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the removable pickup assembly 200 insertedinto the inclined slot 83.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the removable pickup assembly 200 releasablymounted to the body frame 80 of the harvester 22 according to an aspectof the present invention. In particular, in FIG. 11, the removablepickup assembly 200 rests on a pickup assembly support 81 that may beformed on the body frame 80 in addition to the inclined slot 83. Inanother alternative, the inclined slot 83 itself may be the support andguidance to the pickup assembly 200 without the pickup assembly support81. The pickup assembly support 81 may be made of a material andconfigured to suitably support the removable pickup assembly 200. Forexample, the pickup assembly support 81 may be a bent-out flange or aportion metal, such as the frame, jogged out or ribbed for additionalstrength.

The removable pickup assembly 200 received by the body frame 80 isreleasably mounted onto one or more holes of the body frame 80, or asshown in FIG. 11, a hole of a mounting ear 90 formed on the mountingrail 82. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, a bolt may be inserted throughthe hole of the mounting ear 90 and into a threaded attachment block 261formed on the closed bracket 260 to mount the removable pickup assembly200 to the body frame 80.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the pickup assembly hydraulic motor 42 ismounted to the pickup assembly drive shaft 214 via a pickup assemblymotor coupler (FIG. 15), which is similar to the separator assemblymotor coupler 58, also referred to as a shaft coupler, discussed withreference to FIG. 15, below. Pickup assembly motor coupler may be astandard shaft couple, for example, those supplied from Climax MetalProducts Company of Mentor, Ohio.

The pickup assembly hydraulic motor 42 may further include a pickupassembly hydraulic motor power connect 43 including an inlet and outletport to house the hydraulic lines supplying high and low pressurehydraulic fluids, respectively. Pickup assembly hydraulic motor 42, aswell roller assembly hydraulic motor 52 (discussed below), may each betypical hydraulic motors used in the industry, for example, thosesupplied by: White Drive Products, Inc. of Hopkinsville, Kentucky;Danfoss; and Bosch Rexroth Corporation. When the high pressure hydraulicfluid is supplied to the pickup assembly hydraulic motor 42, the pickupassembly hydraulic motor 42 drives the pickup assembly drive shaft 214to rotate.

When preparing to remove the removable pickup assembly 200 from theharvester 22, the pickup assembly hydraulic motor 42 is decoupled fromthe pickup assembly drive shaft 214. As such, the pickup assemblyhydraulic motor 42 is not internal or part of the pickup assembly driveshaft 214. When the removable pickup assembly 200 is lifted up from theinclined slot 83 and removed from the body frame 80, the pickup assemblyhydraulic motor 42 remains connected to the hydraulic lines. After thenew replacement removable pickup assembly 200 is dropped into theinclined slot 83, the pickup assembly hydraulic motor 42 is mounted tothe new replacement removable pickup assembly 200 by being coupled tothe pickup assembly drive shaft 214 of the new replacement removablepickup assembly 200. The pickup assembly hydraulic motor 42 is externalto the pickup assembly drive shaft 214 and not internal so that theremovable pickup assembly 200 may be easily removed from the nutharvester and replaced without having to remove the pickup assemblyhydraulic motor 42 with the removable pickup assembly 200.

Also shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is a pickup assembly torque arm pin 91 tobe inserted into a pickup assembly torque arm slot 49. The pickupassembly torque arm slot 49 is formed at a slot end 46 of the pickupassembly torque arm 44, which is an opposite end to a mounting end 45 ofthe pickup assembly torque arm 44, which is connected to the pickupassembly hydraulic motor 42. In the embodiment of FIG. 12, the openingof the pickup assembly torque arm slot 49 is wider than a size of thepickup assembly torque arm pin 91.

The pickup assembly torque arm 44, in combination with the pickupassembly torque arm slot 49, and pickup assembly torque arm pin 91 areadapted to tolerate a range of movement of the pickup assembly hydraulicmotor 42 occurring during the normal operation of the harvester 22 inthe field while retaining the relative position of the pickup assemblyhydraulic motor 42 in relation to the removable pickup assembly 200. Inan alternative, the pickup assembly toque arm 44 and/or the rollerassembly torque arm 54 (discussed below), are made from a flexiblematerial or is of a configuration that can undergo elastic deformationsuch that they may absorb rotational shock and permit some flexibilitywhile providing a rotational anchor for the respective motors 42,52. Thetolerance provides reasonable tension to a structure of the harvester22, and its components, and allows the harvester 22 to accommodate,absorb, and dissipate minor movement, vibration, and shocks caused bythe physical movements of the harvester 22 and pickup assembly 200,particularly during operation, and prevents damages or cracks that mayotherwise occur if the pickup assembly hydraulic motor 42 were mounteddirectly to the body frame of another harvester.

The wider opening of the pickup assembly torque arm slot 49 allows formanufacturing tolerances and for using the removable pickup assembly 200in harvesters 22 with different sizes of pickup assembly torque arm pin91. The opening of the pickup assembly torque arm slot 49 is alsoelongated to tolerate a movement of the pickup assembly hydraulic motor42 parallel to the pickup assembly torque arm pin 91. It should be notedthat the orientation and shape of the pickup assembly torque arm slot 49may be adjusted to provide for tolerances in different dimensions aswell to assist for movement of the removable pickup assembly 200 indifferent directions.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exploded view of a removable separator assembly100 having rollers and harvester 22 according to an aspect of thepresent invention. FIG. 14 illustrates an exploded view of a removabletwin-rod type separator assembly 300 and harvester 22 according to anaspect of the present invention. The removable roller assembly 100 ofFIG. 13, and the twin-rod type separator assembly 300 of FIG. 14, may bemounted onto the body frame 80 of the harvester 22 according to anexample shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. In particular, the removable rollerassembly 100 of FIG. 13 may have certain rolling features, for examplethose features described in US 8,683,918, and 10,111,385. Regardless ofthe screening/roller/twin rod configuration used for separation, theparticular separator features are combined into a similar assemblyhaving features discussed above with respect to the removable pickupassembly 200. That is, the removable separator assembly 100, shownconfigured with rollers, or the removable separator assembly 300, shownwith a twin-rod configuration, is a cassette that may be removed andinstalled as a single pre-configured unit. Body panel, e.g., side lowerbody panel 66, may cover the removable roller assembly 100 or theremovable twin-rod type separator assembly 300 mounted onto the bodyframe 80.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate an embodiment of the removable rollerassembly 100 mounted onto the body frame 80 of the harvester 22. Itshould be noted that only one side of the removable roller assembly 100mounted to the body frame 80 is discussed and that structurally, theother side of the removable roller assembly has comparable features.According to an aspect of the present invention, one or more matchingmounting holes may be formed on the removable roller assembly 100 andthe mounting rail 82 to receive a releasably engageable fastener tomount the removable roller assembly 100 to the mounting rail 80. In theembodiment of FIG. 15, the removable roller assembly 100 is mounted ontothe mounting rail 82 by fastening an attachment surface 132 (e.g.,bracket) of the removable roller assembly 100 onto a mounting slot 93formed in the mounting rail 82 using a conventional fastening mechanismsuch as bolts and nuts, or other releasably engaging fasteners. Othermeans of releasably mounting may also be utilized to mount the removableroller assembly 100 to the body frame 80, for example, a tension clampor the like.

An exemplary removable roller assembly 100 of FIGS. 15 and 16 includes aside plate 102, at least one roller assembly shafts 112, and at leasttwo disks 122 mounted on each of the at least two roller assembly shafts112. The roller assembly shafts 112 are rotatably mounted onto the sideplate 102. The side plate 102 prevents external debris from fouling theremovable roller assembly 100 and also serves to maintain the rollerassembly shafts 112 in position. In the embodiment of FIG. 15, theattachment surface 132 is formed on the side plate 102. Details ofexample disk configurations and variations thereof, which are internalto the removable roller assembly, may be found, for example, in USPatent Nos. 8,683,918 and 10,111,385.

The roller assembly hydraulic motor 52 is mounted on the removableroller assembly 100 and mechanically coupled to a roller assembly driveshaft 113 via a motor coupler 58. When hydraulic fluid is supplied tothe roller assembly hydraulic motor 52 via an inlet and retuned throughthe outlet port of the roller assembly hydraulic motor power connect 53,through hydraulic lines 31, the roller assembly hydraulic motor 52rotates the roller assembly drive shaft 113, which in turn rotates theroller assembly shafts 112 and disks 122 to separate the collected cropsfrom debris.

In preparation for removing the removable roller assembly 100 forreplacement, the roller assembly hydraulic motor 52 is decoupled fromthe roller assembly drive shaft 113. When the removable roller assembly100 is removed from the body frame 80, the roller assembly hydraulicmotor 52 remains connected to the hydraulic lines. After the newreplacement removable roller assembly 100 is mounted onto the body frame80, the roller assembly hydraulic motor 52 is mounted to the newreplacement removable roller assembly 100 by being coupled to the rollerassembly drive shaft 113 of the new replacement removable rollerassembly 100. The roller assembly hydraulic motor 52 is external to theroller assembly drive shaft 113 and not internal so that the removableroller assembly 100 may be easily removed from the nut harvester 22 andreplaced without having to remove the roller assembly hydraulic motor 52with the removable roller assembly 100.

Also shown in FIG. 16 is a roller assembly torque arm pin 92 formed onthe mounting rail 82, which is inserted into a roller assembly torquearm slot 59 formed on a slot end 56 of the roller assembly torque arm54. A mounting end 55 of the roller assembly torque arm 54 is connectedto the roller assembly hydraulic motor 52 and is opposite to the slotend 56 of the roller assembly torque arm slot 59. In the example of FIG.16, the opening of the roller assembly torque arm slot 59 is wider thana size of the roller assembly torque arm pin 92. The wider opening ofthe roller assembly torque arm slot 59 allows for manufacturingtolerances and the other features discussed above with respect to theremovable pickup assembly 200. For example, the roller assembly torquearm slot 59 may be used with different sizes of roller assembly torquearm pins 92. The opening of the roller assembly torque arm slot 59 isalso elongated to tolerate movement of the roller assembly hydraulicmotor 52 perpendicular to the roller assembly torque arm pin 92.

The roller assembly torque arm 54, roller assembly torque arm slot 59,and roller assembly torque arm pin 92 have similar features to thepickup assembly torque arm 44, pickup assembly torque arm slot 49, andpickup assembly torque arm pin 91 discussed above with respect to theremovable pickup assembly 200 and have similar advantages. In theembodiments of FIGS. 12 and 16, the pickup assembly torque arm pin 91and roller assembly torque arm pin 92 are formed on a sidewall surfaceof the body frame and respectively inserted into the pickup assemblytorque arm slot 49 and roller assembly torque arm slot 59, respectively,allowing the pickup assembly torque arm 44 and roller assembly torquearm 54, respectively, to “float” on the pickup assembly torque arm pin91 and roller assembly torque arm pin 92.

To replace the removable pickup assembly 200, the pickup assemblyhydraulic motor 42 mounted to the pickup assembly drive shaft 214 isdecoupled from the pickup assembly drive shaft 214, while the pickupassembly hydraulic motor 42 remains connected to the hydraulic tubing31. Optionally, the pickup assembly torque arm slot 49 may be liftedfrom the pickup assembly torque arm pin 91. The removable pickupassembly 200 is decoupled from the frame 80 by removing the appropriatefastener(s). For example, the attachment blocks 261 (FIG. 11) of theclosed bracket 260 is unfastened from the mounting ear 90 of themounting rail 82. In addition, top body panel(s) 62 and side upper bodypanel(s) 64 are removed from the body frame 80. Thereafter, theremovable pickup assembly 200 is removed, for example lifted up, fromthe inclined slot 83 and out of the pickup compartment 76. A newremovable pickup assembly 200 is then placed into the inclined slot andinto the pickup compartment 76. The top body panel 62 and the side upperbody panel 64 are added to cover the new removable pickup assembly 200,and the attachment block(s) 261 of the new removable pickup assembly 200are fastened to the mounting ear(s) 90. The pickup assembly hydraulicmotor 42 is also coupled to the pickup assembly drive shaft 214 of thenew removable pickup assembly 200, and, if removed, the pickup assemblytorque arm pin 91 is re-inserted into the pickup assembly torque armslot 49.

To replace the removable separator assembly 100, the roller assemblyhydraulic motor 52 is decoupled from the roller assembly drive shaft113, while the roller assembly hydraulic motor 52 is still connected tothe hydraulic tubing 31. Optionally, the roller assembly torque arm slot59 may be lifted from the roller assembly torque arm pin 92. Theremovable separator assembly 100 is decoupled from the frame 80 byremoving the appropriate fastener(s). For example, the attachmentsurface(s) 132 of the roller assembly 100 is unfastened from themounting slot(s) 93 of the mounting rail 82. The side lower bodypanel(s) 66 are removed from the body frame 80. Thereafter, theremovable roller assembly 100 is removed from the separator compartment78. A new removable roller assembly 100 is paced into the separatorcompartment 78. The side lower body panel(s) 66 covers the new removableroller assembly 100, and the attachment surface 132 of the new removableroller assembly 100 is fastened to the mounting slot(s) 93 of themounting rail 82. The roller assembly hydraulic motor 52 is coupled tothe roller assembly drive shaft 113 of the new removable roller assembly100 via the motor coupler 58, and, if removed, the roller assemblytorque arm pin 92 is inserted into the roller assembly torque arm slot59.

The apparatus and methods of the present disclosure offer improvementsin crop product harvesting by allowing for more efficient cropharvesting. The efficiency is gained by decreasing the out of servicetime associated with repairing pickup and separation configurations. Theability to remove and reinstall a cassette of, for example, a removablepickup assembly 200 and/or a removable roller assembly 100 allows forthe units to be pre-configured and refurbished without taking theharvester out of service. The advantage of being able to remove andreplace the removable pickup assembly 200 and removable roller assembly100 quickly allows for the harvester to return to service with limiteddown-time and for maintenance on the assemblies to be completed in amore ideal work environment with access to appropriate tools and shelteras opposed to the need for field repairs of the equipment.

The above description and drawings are only illustrative of preferredembodiments, and are not intended to be limiting. Features describedwith a single aspect or embodiment of this disclosure may also be usewith other aspects or embodiments of this disclosure where appropriate.Any subject matter or modification thereof which comes within the spiritand scope of the following claims is to be considered part of thepresent invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters of theUnited States:
 1. A harvester comprising: a body frame; a removeablepickup assembly; a pickup assembly support adapted to releasably receivethe removeable pickup assembly on top of the pickup assembly support. 2.The harvester of claim 1, wherein the body frame comprises the pickupassembly support.
 3. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the body framecomprises a mounting rail and the mounting rail comprises the pickupassembly support.
 4. The harvester of claim 1, further comprising aninclined slot bottom surface and the inclined slot bottom surfacecomprises the pickup assembly support.
 5. The harvester of claim 4,further comprising an inclined slot top surface, wherein the inclinedslot top surface and the inclined slot bottom surface form an inclinedslot adapted to receive the pickup assembly.
 6. The harvester of claim5, wherein the inclined slot is inclined at an operating angle of theremoveable pickup assembly.
 7. The harvester of claim 5, furthercomprising an inclined slot curved surface connecting the inclined slottop surface to the inclined slot bottom surface.
 8. The harvester ofclaim 1, wherein the removeable pickup assembly is releasably engagedwith the body frame.
 9. The harvester of claim 8, wherein the body framecomprises mounting ears adapted to releasably fasten to the removeablepickup assembly.
 10. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the removablepickup assembly comprises: a pickup assembly drive shaft; a pickupassembly idle shaft; and a stretcher assembly.
 11. The harvester ofclaim 10, wherein the stretcher assembly releasably contacts the pickupassembly support when the removeable pickup assembly is releasablyreceived by the pickup assembly support.
 12. The harvester of claim 10,wherein the stretcher assembly comprises: a closed bracket, an openbracket, and a stretcher rod connecting the closed bracket to the openbracket;
 13. The harvester of claim 10, wherein the removable pickupassembly further comprises one or more belts wrapped around the pickupassembly drive shaft and the pickup assembly idle shaft.
 14. Theharvester of claim 13, wherein the one or more belts are adapted to beat an operating tension when the removeable pickup assembly isreleasably received by the pickup assembly support.
 15. The harvester ofclaim 1, further comprising a pickup assembly motor.
 16. The harvesterof claim 15, wherein the pickup assembly motor is a pickup assemblyhydraulic motor.
 17. The harvester of claim 15, further comprising apickup assembly torque arm connected to the pickup assembly motor, thepickup assembly torque arm including a pickup assembly torque arm slot.18. The harvester of claim 17, wherein the pickup assembly torque armcomprises: a pickup assembly torque arm mounting end attached to thepickup assembly motor; and a pickup assembly torque arm slot end inwhich the pickup assembly torque arm slot is formed, wherein an openingof the pickup assembly torque arm slot is wider than a size of a pickupassembly torque arm pin inserted into the pickup assembly torque armslot.
 19. The harvester of claim 18, wherein the pickup assembly torquearm slot is elongated to tolerate a movement of the pickup assemblymotor with respect to the pickup assembly torque arm pin.
 20. Theharvester of claim 15, further comprising a pickup assembly motorcoupler releasably coupling the pickup assembly motor to the pickupassembly drive shaft.